Jad Houry, Chicago Booth MBA Class of 2019
Age: 27
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Institution and Major: American University of Beirut, bachelor of engineering in mechanical engineering
Pre-MBA Work Experience: After earning my undergraduate degree, I started working for Petrofac, an oil & gas services provider in the United Arab Emirates, where I spent a year and a half as a mechanical engineer. I then switched to management consulting, joining the McKinsey Middle East Office, where I spent a little more than three years. I worked in the United States for my final year at McKinsey.
Why business school? Why now? I decided to apply to business school to build a robust understanding of business fundamentals and further develop my leadership skills.
Five years into my career, I think this is the right moment to take some time off to explore and learn more about new industries and opportunities. I think Chicago Booth is the perfect place to do that, be it through leveraging the school’s resources or through learning from my classmates’ experiences.
Why Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend? I wanted to attend a program in the U.S. because of my respect for American institutions of higher education. My decision to apply to Booth was driven by the school’s illustrious history in thought leadership in the fields of economics and finance. I was also drawn to Booth’s flexible curriculum, which provides me with ample opportunities to cater the learning experience to my own development needs from day one.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the Class of 2019? Having worked in multiple countries in the Middle East, I will be able to share my knowledge of the region’s markets and cultures. I look forward to advising classmates interested in pursuing career opportunities in the region. Furthermore, I have also worked in the United States for a year, so I’m able to compare and contrast both experiences.
Fun fact that didn’t get included on your application? One of my two-year objectives at the MBA is to learn how to cook.
Post-MBA career interests? I will be returning to McKinsey after my MBA, where I plan to focus my work in marketing and sales.
Advice to current prospective applicants:
–One thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process? Talk to alumni and current students at the different business schools to get an understanding of the culture and decide which forms a good fit.
–One thing you would change or do differently? I would have started working on my essay earlier.
–Part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it? Writing the essay. It required a lot of thinking and reflection. That said, it was a great experience to learn more about myself. Talking to family and close friends helped a lot in deciding on the topics to write about and having their feedback was essential in finalizing it.
Greatest highlight so far at Chicago Booth? Random Walk. It’s a one-week trip with a group of future classmates the summer before the start of the program. The trip is led by second-year students who rapidly become your mentors over the course of your MBA experience. I went to Greece, where I spent one of the most enjoyable weeks of my life. My classmates and I formed bonds that will certainly last a lifetime.
One thing about Chicago Booth that you didn’t expect before arriving? The “pay-it-forward” culture espoused by the second-year students. They have been incredibly generous with their time and support. Not once have I sought help from any second-year thus far and not received it.
Thing you are most anxious about in your first year? I am most anxious that I won’t be able to explore all the opportunities I will be exposed to at Booth due to time constraints. There is such a plethora of opportunities that you are required to say “no” to things that you otherwise would find absolutely fascinating.
Thing you are most excited about in your first year? I am most excited about the sheer breadth and depth of the experiences of my classmates. I couldn’t wait to be exposed to people who have achieved so much in so many different ways in so many industries. My aim is to meet and learn from as many of them as I can.
